No, I will not ride that little surfboard thing. I told my friends as we watched C and M balance above the artificial waves created by Crown Regency Resort’s Wave Rider. Hollering and laughing as they did, they look like they were all having so much fun that after a few more prodding, I myself was riding on the board, wobbly legs and all.

LOVE THE MODERN TROPICAL ARCHITECTURE OF CROWN REGENCY RESORT

It was the weekend, and after the much expected delays at Manila’s airport, we were soon heading through the lonely evening roads of Aklan and on to a speedboat en route to the Philippines’ party island, Boracay. Our lodging of choice this time, Crown Regency Resort and Convention Center.

A RARE MOMENT OF PEACE AT THE LOBBY

The resort is located on the street parallel to Station 2 of Boracay White Beach. Yes, it isn’t beach front, but that didn’t really bother us that much; seeing how crowded the lobby was 24/7, we knew that we have nothing to worry about, we were at the right place.

SPACIOUS DELUXE POOL VIEW ROOM

TOILET AND BATH IN MARBLE FINISH

We were booked on their Deluxe Pool View Room, and the room was as what we expected from a four-star lodging; two queen-sized beds, a work desk with a plush velvety chair, flatscreen cable-TV, a kitchenette with mini-bar and a marble-laden toilet and bath with bathtub. The room opens to a mini-veranda overlooking the pool—as its name suggests.

MINI BALCONY OVERLOOKING THE WAVE POOL

It was way past midnight when we arrived, so after fixing a cup of coffee and tea, we headed straight to the balcony and contemplated on dodging the resort guards and have a leisurely midnight swim on the pool. But the urge to simply lay down on the soft bed was much stronger. We slept. Soundly.

BUFFET BREAKFAST AT THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR

NO BACONS, BUT GOOD ENOUGH

The next day shone bright. We slept late, but not late enough to catch the buffet breakfast at the lower ground level restaurant. I was looking for my crispy bacon fix, but no such luck. They do have sausages, sauced up hard-boiled eggs, adobo,danggit and pancit canton though, so my cravings for bacons was quickly satiated.

WAN SHAN LO CHINESE RESTAURANT

EXCELLENT LUNCH AT WAN SHAN LO!

We went through Crown Regency’s facilities through a guided tour right after—yes, the resort is huge enough to warrant a guided tour—going past koi ponds with one lazy koi, rescued turtles swimming on a pond near the buffet lines, a floating aquarium with giant arapaima fishes above the lobby, a 50’s themed bar, a Chinese restaurant and finally, the oceanarium.

CROWN REGENCY’S OCEANARIUM

I was as surprised as my companions to find a full-sized oceanarium right under the hotel. It features a few mini-aquariums and a giant-sized tank complete with a thirty-meter curved glass tunnel. And it’s not just any aquarium tunnel, it is the longest of its kind the Philippines, besting even Manila Ocean Park’s own by five meters!

THE DISCOVERY TUNNEL

SHARKS AND FISHES INSIDE THE OCEANARIUM

Inside the tunnel, we watched as a hawk-billed turtle swam with sharks and various other colorful fishes overhead. And as we neared the end, I was startled to find an actual human being swimming inside the tank in full scuba equipment!

GOING IN FOR A DIVE

MERMAID SHOW WITH THE PEARL

Apparently, guests are allowed to dive inside for a fee. Too cool! My friends, all diving virgins, actually tried the so-called Ocean Walk the next day, I would’ve gone too if not for my raging toothache (I simply could not bite on the oxygen tube). I can only watch with envy from the glass walls of the restaurant right next to the aquarium as they awkwardly glided through the water while we ate nachos and pizza, lol.

OCEAN BAR AND KTV WITH A VIEW OF THE OCEANARIUM

CROWN REGENCY SERVES AMAZING NACHOS

And oh, lest I forget, Crown Regency’s oceanarium houses what is now believed to be the world’s largest discovered pearl. Dubbed as the Pearl of the King, it was found in the waters of Palawan. The pearl, which is estimated to be worth more than a hundred million US dollars, sits comfortably on an abalone shell right by the bed of the oceanarium. You’d think it would have more security than the central bank of the Philippines but I guess the sharks circling around it are security enough.

CROWN REGENCY RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER

We almost forgot that we were in Boracay through our three-night stay at Crown Regency. The facilities inside were enough of a distraction for us not to miss White Beach. Which is quite alright, really, since it was raining on and off during our stay.

A QUICK VISIT TO PUKA BEACH

THE LESSER KNOWN ILIG-ILIGAN BEACH

RIDING JETSKIS IN BORACAY

THE OPEN CABLE CAR EXPERIENCE

Still, we tried to pry ourselves from the hotel, visiting Puka Beach and the lesser known Ilig-Iligan Beach for a few hours. Heck, we even tried Boracay’s jetski and open cable car. And right before a huge downpour too! We were quite lucky we reached the other end before it rained! The group next to us wasn’t quite so lucky.

RAINING ON AND OFF DURING OUR STAY

The Wave Rider was in full swing when we arrived back at the hotel. Everyone was egging everyone to finally take courage and ride the wave as we looked on and saw how the riders all went spilling at one point over the board and goes a’tumblin’ and a’rollin’ through rubber floor.

RIDING THE WAVE RIDER!

I’m quite sure, clumsy me can’t even stand even one second on that freakin’ board. But as my friends did, one after another, I finally gave in. I stripped, stood over the rubber floor as waves crashed over my feet. I gingerly set both feet on the board and surprised myself. I was riding the wave! Then boom crash! The floors are quite soft, in all fairness, lol.

~ OUR GRATITUDE GOES OUT TO CROWN REGENCY FOR THE INVITE. VIEWS & OPINIONS IN THIS REVIEW ARE ALL MINE.